It’s been called Pedro Park, Fitzgerald Park and the Park at the Heart.

But whatever its name, the vision has always been the same: a downtown St. Paul park to replace the old Pedros Luggage and Public Safety Annex buildings off 10th and Robert streets, offering surrounding residents a green oasis on par with Mears Park.

But St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman has rolled out a new plan for Pedro Park that preserves the Public Safety Annex for office space, and now some downtown residents are rallying against it.

On Friday, they announced they recruited 81-year-old Marilyn Pitera, the last surviving sibling of the Pedro brothers, who donated the 82,500-square-foot Pedros Luggage building to the city in 2009 on the condition that the land be used for a park within five years.

Pedros Luggage was torn down in 2011, but the only thing the city planted in its place is an “urban flower field” of flower plots designed in an artistic circular pattern in front of a large mural.

“Her two brothers died in 2013, and she has since felt alone and sad the park has not moved forward as promised,” said Kati Berg, a resident of The Pointe of St. Paul and acting chair of the new “Friends of Pedro Park Expansion.”

City officials have said the cost of renovating and maintaining a block-length, 2/3rds block or 1/2-block park, as once envisioned, could run in the millions.

Demolition began Friday, March 18, 2011 of the Pedro’s Luggage building in downtown St. Paul, which was to be the site of a park. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff)

In late September, the Coleman administration announced a change of course — a possible partnership with the Ackerberg group to redevelop the newly-vacated Public Safety Annex building at 100 10th St. East into office space that could draw more than 200 jobs.

Under the agreement, the developers would make a commitment to maintain the neighboring Pedro Park plot as green space for 20 years or more. Acting as the St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the St. Paul City Council is likely to vote on the offer Nov. 8.

“This is an incredible opportunity to preserve a building with a rich history and build out vibrant green space, while also attracting hundreds of new jobs,” said Coleman, in a Sept. 27 announcement. “It’s a win for St. Paul.”

Rod Halvorson, president of the City Walk building association and former chair of the Ramsey County DFL, had lunch with Pitera last week and confirmed she’s unhappy with the offer, though she declined at the time to speak with the media.

In an email to Berg, Pitera wrote on Friday: “My hope is that the city council will be moved to make the right decision; fulfill their original plan & NOT sell the police annex building so the already delayed plans can move forward.”

Downtown resident Steve Loeding also is not pleased.

“One little patch of green space does not make a park,” Loeding said, “when thousands of hours of study over several years with city approvals at every step are ignored and the mayor tries to slam through a quick approval with no input from the thousands of us (who) have been relying on approved city plans.”

In January 2015, the St. Paul City Council unanimously passed a resolution defining Pedro Park as the northern half of “Block 10,” from Robert Street to Minnesota Street, which includes the public safety annex building.

St. Paul mayoral candidates also have weighed in on the park plans.

In an Oct. 9 mayoral forum sponsored by the Building Owners and Managers Association, candidates Melvin Carter and Pat Harris noted that the city made a commitment to residents to create a true city park and should honor it.

Council Member Dai Thao, a fellow mayoral candidate, called the situation “a conundrum,” given the city’s need for more jobs, and suggested adding a nature canopy, or “green roof,” onto the public safety annex building as a way to improve scenery.

As a sitting council member, Thao will be able to cast a vote on the mayor’s proposal on Nov. 8.

In written talking points shared with her Friends of Pedro Park Expansion group, Berg said Thao has “personally given myself and Rod his promise to vote ‘no’ on the Annex Bldg sale, but has also given a nod to the business community that he is open to developments, including this one.”

On Oct. 10, Thao clarified his stance to a reporter in writing. “The city made a promise to the people and Pedro family,” Thao said. “We need more green space in downtown. I envision a park with (a) grass sliding hill. … We have plenty of vacant office for businesses to occupy. Let’s fulfill the promise the city has made.”

Frederick Melo was once sued by a reader for $2 million but kept on writing. He came to the Pioneer Press in 2005 and brings a testy East Coast attitude to St. Paul beat reporting. He spent nearly six years covering crime in the Dakota County courts before switching focus to the St. Paul mayor's office, city council, and all things neighborhood-related, from the city's churches to its parks and light rail. A resident of Hamline-Midway, he is married to a Frogtown woman. He Tweets with manic intensity at @FrederickMelo.

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